Japanese K-Pop Tracks - Part 1

Photo: KQ Entertainment

While Korean idols are known for their K-Pop music, a lot of these groups and solo artists release Japanese albums, or Japanese versions of their albums that were originally released in Korean, giving fans endless amounts of songs to listen to and enjoy. With so much to listen to and discover, here are some of my favorite Japanese K-Pop tracks. 

“12 Midnight” - ATEEZ

Known for their stellar Korean pop music, ATEEZ remain just as strong and addictive with their Japanese additions, having released several studio albums and singles, in the language, to date. From their second full-length Japanese album, Ashes to Light, the second single "12 Midnight" shines bright with its Jersey Club beat that combines a lively sound with laid-back vibes, projecting conflicting feelings onto ATINY (their dedicated fandom) of whether to groove along and dance or sit back and relax, with "12 Midnight" serving as an ideal soundtrack for both moods. As with any ATEEZ track, the vocals and lyricism immediately capture the listener's attention, steeped in smooth, velvety R&B, making “12 Midnight” another great hit from ATEEZ that will have listeners wanting to dive deeper into more of their Japanese discography. 

“Like 1” - TWICE

TWICE closed their sixth Japanese album ENEMY with the sentimental sounds of “Like 1,” a pop-rock track that brings the album to a bittersweet end with words of love and reassurance, reminding ONCE (the group's loyal fans) that they will “always be like one” no matter what happens between them. The members' sweet vocal tones guide the track, providing warmth and comfort through their words, with the lyrics sung in both Japanese and English. With this, “Like 1” feels like the perfect closure song for both the album and a TWICE concert, playing as an encore track where TWICE freely move around the stage, wearing their tour merch, and endearingly engage with ONCE, leaving lasting memories for everyone in the venue. 

“Nice to Meet Ya” - TOMORROW X TOGETHER

In August, TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) dropped their fifth Japanese single album セツナハナビ (Setsuna Hanabi) consisting of a title track of the same name and three B-sides, “Silence,” “Nice to Meet Ya,” and “セツナハナビ (Setsuna Hanabi) 夏宵 (Natsuyoi) version.” Whilst released towards the end of summer as a pre-release track, the third song “Nice to Meet Ya” continued to display the hot, summery vibes of the season, with an uplifting pop-rock ambience that felt youthful and light. With TXT changing the lives of many of their fans (known as MOA) just through sound and song, the lyrics for “Nice to Meet Ya” project a relatable exchange for MOA as TXT sing about their lives changing for the better whenever they are in the presence of someone special, becoming a beautifully touching track for any listener.